Greece’s stunning seaside views and charming villages make it very popular with tourists.

1. Kythira

Where on Earth is it?

Kythira is one of Greece’s seven Ionian Islands.

Why you need to know about it

While tourists flock to Mykonos and Santorini, the Ionian Islands possess a less frenetic pace.

From ancient times the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines and Venetians have traipsed over the island, but in the modern era it’s Australian accents that proliferate: many inhabitants emigrated to Australia (comically referred to as Big Kythira) in the early 20th century and their descendants regularly return to holiday.

Other tourists are in short supply, which means the island’s rugged landscape, silky-soft beaches and white-washed villages are left in relative peace.

2. Crete

Where on Earth is it?

Greece’s largest island sits in the southern part of the Aegean Sea.

Why you need to know about it

Having only united with Greece in 1913, Crete has its own unique culture and customs.

3. Kastellorizo

Where on Earth is it?

Why you need to know about it

Just a couple of kilometres off the Turkish coast, Kastellorizo is the smallest of Greece’s Dodecanese islands.

A rustic door on a building in Kastellorizo, Greece.

The main town spills down to a colourful, mansion-lined harbourfront with plenty of tavernas to while away the hours; enjoy the seafood while watching fishing boats come and go.

Follow a path at the back of town into the hills for spectacular views to the Turkish coast. If you want to explore further, catch a boat to Kas on Turkey’s mainland, a lovely seaside town.

4. Meteora

Where on Earth is it?

In Kalabaka in the western region of Thessaly, 355 kilometres from Athens.

Why you need to know about it

A collection of monolithic pillars crowned by a clutch of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, Meteora is a confluence of man, nature and faith.

100 secret gems: Looming boulders and monastries in Meteora, Greece.

Hermetic monks settled here from the 11th century, with 24 monasteries built during the 15th century on the perilous peaks, with building materials carried to the top by ropes, ladders, nets and baskets.

Six monasteries survive today and are collectively listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors need to climb lots of stairs, but the views, history and 16th-century frescoes are truly divine.